Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale begins $9 million summer renovation

The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale has begun a nearly $9 million renovation that will bring enhancements to its lobby and a overhaul of its spa and main restaurant, as well as new stores.

"[Fort Lauderdale] beach is going to have a lot of great new restaurants, and retail in coming years and that's a trend that's going to continue. We want to make sure we're a part of that," Greg Cook, The Ritz-Carlton's general manager, Tuesday.

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Among the hotels, condos and residences slated to open along the beachfront within the next three years are the Ocean Resort Residences at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, Paramount Fort Lauderdale Beach, Auberge Beach Residences & Spa and Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences. Others also are set to pop up just blocks from the beachfront including Gale Boutique Hotel & Residences, which includes the restoration of the historic Escape Hotel on Riomar Street.

The initial planning for the Ritz Carlston's makeover started about two years ago when new owners took over, Cook said.

In July 2013, an affiliate of Miami-based Gencom bought the property. Ritz-Carlton will remain as manager.

Renovation work began June 15 and will be completed in phases, all of them done by sometime in the fourth quarter, hotel spokeswoman Tatiana Lora said.

Here's a snapshot of what the renovation will entail:

Lobby: The main lobby — which used to have a lot of seating — will become more interactive and entertainment-focused with the addition of tabletop games and media walls with video screens. It also will offer secluded areas for guests to hang out.

Retail: Two new stores will be added at lobby level — Island Co., which sells resort style apparel for men and women — and Memories, a gift and sundries shop. In South Florida, Island Co. already has a location on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. It's expected that both shops will attract guests as well as locals.

Restaurants: The Ritz-Carlton's existing Italian restaurant, Via Luna, will be redesigned into a new eatery and bar with indoor and outdoor dining space. The design elements of yet-to-be-named restaurant and bar will feature elements from Fort Lauderdale's history including the Prohibition era, when it was known as a haven for smugglers and bootleggers. The menu will be seafood-inspired and its adjacent café and bistro will offer grab-and-go meals.

"It will be very approachable from the street and really play to locals," Cook said of the new eatery and bar. "The pricing will be the same as a typical restaurant of the same caliber along the beach. We want locals to hang out there."

Rooms: The floors in the resort's 166 guest rooms will be replaced with a wood floor and carpet combination and will undergo general "refreshing," he said.

Spa: The resort's seventh floor spa will be revamped and will include a hair salon, sauna and steam room. Treatment rooms will be enhanced with contemporary décor. During the renovations, spa treatments will be available in alternate locations.

The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale will remain open during the renovation. The spa upgrades are expected to be finished between August and September and the restaurant by early November, Lora said.